Yahoo News 10 best lawnmowers
With grass cutting season now in full swing, it’s time to consider a new lawnmower to replace that cranky old push along you’ve struggled with for so many years. Well you’ve come to the right place because we’ve called in a bevy of fine sward swallowers that’ll make your existing mower look positively prehistoric.
What’s the best size mower for my lawn?
The first thing to consider is the machine’s cutting width. If you have a small patch of grass no longer or wider than, say, 15 metres, then all you need is a small bodied mower with a cutting deck of around 33cm (13 inches).
From there on the sky’s the limit, with the largest models sporting cutting decks of 46cm and upwards. It stands to reason that the wider the cutting deck, the less time it will take to mow the lawn.
So, if you’re lucky enough to own a broad sward in excess of 600 square metres then you need to be looking at a mower with a cutting deck of at least 41cm.
Cylinder, rotary or hover?
Cylinder mowers have a rotary blade in the front and work using a scissor action to cut the grass. However, they’re not as popular as they once were though they still remain the best method for cutting lawns using the unpowered hand pushing method.
The rotary system is far and away the most popular system on today’s mowers. These models use a spinning blade beneath the mower that forces grass cuttings into a collection box or out the back of the mower with the aid of centrifugal force.
Rotary mowers are the best all-round option for the vast majority of cutting scenarios. They’re also good at cutting right to the edge. Another option is the good old hover mower – a Flymo innovation – but this style of lawnmower is only useful on small lawns without any lumps and bumps.
Cordless, petrol or electric?
In the past you had a choice of a push along, petrol or electric mower but now there’s a new upstart on the sod and it runs on battery power alone. For this writer’s money, battery-powered cordless mowers are de rigeur for fuss-free mowing.
There are no leads to get entangled with and no chance of being electrocuted or causing an alarming bang by cutting through a cable. From setting it up to cutting the lawn to putting it away, a cordless model will literally halve the time spent mowing – and that’s no exaggeration.
Also, most of today’s cordless mowers are easily as powerful as their electric and petrol counterparts. However, there are important things like running time to consider and whether or not the battery has enough charge to complete the task. Cordless mowers are also more expensive to buy than their electric counterparts.
If cord-free mowing isn’t up your garden path then consider an electric or petrol model. Electric mowers trail a cable behind them so one should always be mindful of where the cable is, especially when spinning round for another sweep.
The cable can also get snagged on plant pots, visible roots and edging stones so be prepared to adopt the good old skipping rope technique to free it. Nevertheless, electric mowers are more than powerful enough to tackle anything in their path and are a great option for small to medium sized lawns with an electricity supply within 10 metres.
If you have a large or extensive lawn in excess of around 600 square metres you should consider a petrol model which will go on running for as long as there’s unleaded fuel in the tank. Petrol mowers are the heaviest of all mower types and the most awkward to store when not in use.
They also need a lot of TLC including filter and, in some instances, oil changes. The best models use electric start but they’re pretty expensive, which means you’ll most likely end up with a pull start model, and anyone who has ever used one of those will know how frustrating it can be pull starting a petrol mower after it’s spent a whole winter tucked away in a shed. Nevertheless, petrol mowers are still the best bet for expansive lawns, ride-on mowers notwithstanding.
How often should I cut the grass?
You should ideally mow at least once a week. That way the lawn will stay in tip-top condition and weeds won’t get a chance to grow.
Also, keep in mind whether you want the grass cuttings to be collected in a grass box (all of the models reviewed here have one) or whether you’d prefer a mower with an added mulching plug. Mulching is where the cuttings are thrown back on to the lawn where they decompose, releasing all manner of high quality nutrients back into the turf.
We’ve tested these mowers on small and medium lawns to bring you the best of them.
We haven’t included ride-on mowers because the majority of house owners simply don’t need anything that large. We’ve also left robot mowers out of the equation because they’ve already been tested here.
Stihl RMA 235: £225, Mow With Us
Stihl’s horticultural power tools are widely considered to be among the most reliable, efficient and well designed on the market; small wonder it’s the brand of choice among professional gardeners, landscapers and tree surgeons. This cracking entry level cordless mower is a case in point.
Equipped with a small 33cm cutting deck, a plastic 30 litre grass catcher and a cutting height range of 25 to 65mm, the RMA 235 is especially suitable for small city lawns. Rather ingeniously, it’s also equipped with a unique motor management system that adjusts the speed of the blade depending on the length of the grass.
This is a truly marvellous innovation that greatly increases battery economy and ensures that the mower remains whisper quiet for most of the session. Indeed this model is arguably the quietest in this roundup and that’s an excellent thing for those with grouchy neighbours.
As is the case with most cordless power tool manufacturers, the Stihl doesn’t come with a battery or charger so you’ll need to fork out another £120 on top, unless, of course, you already own a Stihl powertool that uses the same 36v AK20 lithium ion battery.
Despite its diminutive dimensions, this lightweight mower cut our test lawn exceedingly well and right up to the edge. We anticipate that a single charge will provide six to eight sessions on a typical 10m x 5m London lawn and that’s exceptional. Granted, the foldable push handle may be a mite too tall for someone under 5’5” and a netted grass collector would have made it even easier to store.
But these are minor quibbles given the machine’s fuss free efficiency. Top marks.
Greenworks G40LM41: £199.95, Amazon
This cordless sward stylist’s 41cm cutting deck is perfect for small to medium sized lawns and features a one-touch cutting height button (five positions from 25mm to 80mm), an easy to store 50-litre collection bag, a foldaway handle for easier storage and a mulching plug for those who like to mulch.
As with most cordless lawnmowers, you don’t get the 40v battery or charger with this model so figure in another £135 on top, unless you already happen to own another Greenworks power tool with a G-Max moniker.
This mower is a fabulous cutter. It’s not too heavy for long stints on the sod, the handlebar is comfy on the wrists, it’s relatively quiet and the huge, mesh collection bag holds loads of grass cuttings, which keeps trips to the compost heap to a minimum.
A single charge of its high-tech 40v battery provides enough power to mow up to 600 square metres of turf and the battery itself charges in less than an hour. Finally, for those who like colourful power tools, this one comes in delicious Lamborghini green for added raciness.
Bosch Rotak 32: £84.77, Amazon
This small and very lightweight electric mower feels like a toy but it cuts grass to within an inch of its life, right up to the edge. The Bosch comes equipped with a 32cm cutting deck and 1,200-watt Powerdrive motor that tackles most lengths of grass with aplomb and has no problem negotiating even the lumpiest of terrain.
And because it weights just 6.8kg, it’s effortless to push and a doddle to carry. The plastic 31-litre grass container feels fragile and you’ll need to clip it together yourself, but it serves its purpose well and collects every last cutting, even when the container is approaching full.
Bosch gear is generally very reliable and this mower is no exception. However, a longer cable would be an advantage since we found it wasn’t quite long enough to cover our smaller 10 metre plot without using an extension cord.
Aside from that, and the generally flimsy build, this is an excellent entry-level electric mower that performs admirably and is very easy to use. We urge you to give it a try.
Husqvarna LC 247 Li: £391, Gayways
This deep orange hunk of Swedish splendour comes with Bluetooth connectivity and a twin battery facility for extra long running times; as soon as the mower’s battery management system detects a drop in charge in one battery, it automatically switches over to the other. Of course, you’ll have to pay extra for the batteries and charger (that’ll be £270 please) but a system like this can save a lot of time if you have a lawn – and storage area – large enough to accommodate it.
Despite its beefy weight (24kgs) and lack of self-propulsion (available on other models), the Huskie is remarkably easy to push thanks to the large wheels and ergonomic handlebar system.
Its motor is easily powerful enough to deal with even the coarsest of grasses (its height adjusts from 20 to 75mm), while its 47cm cutting deck and extra large 55 litre fabric grass bag mean fewer trips to the compost heap. Nab yourself one of these handsome cutting-edge sward swallowers and you’ll be back in the hammock faster than a squirrel up a tree.
Flymo Easi Glide 330: £85, Amazon
An electrically-powered hover mower like this dinky budget model from Flymo is only suitable for smooth lawns with no gnarly lumps and bumps. This particular model comes with a small 33cm cutting deck that is ideal for very small urban lawns; it also comes with a decently long 12m cable.
Hover mowers don’t have wheels attached and instead float on a cushion of air created by a fan located just above the cutting blade. In other words, it behaves just like a hovercraft and is therefore among the easiest of all lawnmowers to push and swing around – but only if your lawn is smooth and mostly flat.
The Glider 330’s small, hidden 20-litre grass box is easy to disengage but changing the cutting height involves removing the blade and adding or subtracting a series of plastic spacers. Also bear in mind that this mower’s maximum height setting is just 30mm, which may be a shave too close for some types of grass.
Gtech Falcon: £349.99, Gtech
British company Gtech produces a wide range of excellent cordless products that not only look fantastic but perform exceptionally well. At 16.95kgs, the smart-looking Gtech Falcon is quite a weighty thing but we found its extra large wheels and foam covered aluminium push handle made it really easy to manoeuvre.
This mower comes with a 43cm cutting deck, six easily adjustable cutting heights (a rather high 30mm to 80mm) and a large 40-litre mesh grass collector replete with a plastic flap that raises up to let you know when it’s full.
In our test, the Falcon cut the grass impeccably well and left no unsightly clumps in its wake. Granted, the motor is scare-the-pets noisy but it never bogged down in even the longest grass.
Putting it to bed was an equally simple process – just unlatch the handlebar and swivel it over to the front. The Falcon is one of only a handful of mowers to include a battery and charger as standard.
The 36-volt Li-ion battery powers the mower for up to 40 minutes (or 300 square metres) but it takes a whopping five hours to charge it. Also, the charging system is top heavy and easily knocked over by a passing cat. But all things considered, this is still a brilliant mower and one of the best lookers in this roundup.
Ego LM2024E-SP: £679, Ego
If you have a medium to large lawn and are in the market for a top quality cordless machine with a wide 50cm steel cutting deck and a massive 60-litre grass collector, then they don’t come any better than this solidly constructed pro-style model from Ego. This monster weighs a hefty 31kgs so you can forget carrying it anywhere.
However, it also features variable-speed self propulsion and that’s a massive bonus if the size of your lawn involves a lot of legwork. Simply pull on the start bar and adjust the propulsion lever for a variety of walking-pace speeds from 2.2 to 5kph. For those who like mowing at dusk, it also comes equipped with a pair of bright LED headlights.
The Ego’s high quality brushless motor and gigantic Star Wars style 56v Lithium-Ion battery provide serious grunt that helps the mower scythe through any length of grass you put in its path. It also features a pro-spec side-ejection mulching system for those who prefer the nutrients to be fed back into the lawn.
Expect about 35 minutes of runtime in propulsion mode and a lot longer if manually pushed; the good news is that both the battery and the charger are included in the package. This is not a cheap machine, mind, but if you have a large lawn and don’t fancy wrestling with a petrol mower, then this impeccable cordless model is easily your best alternative.
Cobra GTRM38: £99.99, Cobra
This cool looking electric mower is just the ticket for the budget-conscious lawnsmith. Its powerful 1400-watt motor rarely bogs down even in the most overgrown areas while its wider 38cm (15-inch) blade ensures fewer passes up and down the lawn.
The Cobra comes equipped with a rear roller for tennis court stripes, a mulching plug, seven cutting heights (from 20mm to 75mm), a 40-litre mesh grass container with full indicator, a shortish 10-metre cable and an articulated handle that folds into three for effortless storage.
If you don’t mind wrestling with a cord, have a small to medium size lawn and don’t fancy forking out on something you’ll only use about 20 times a year, then give this well-endowed turf shearer a whirl.
Mountfield Princess 34: £109, Amazon
Mountfield is a highly reputable brand and one of the UK’s most popular manufacturers of all things lawn related. Like the Cobra, this is another budget-priced electric model with a rear roller for creating garden stripes.
However, bear in mind that electric mowers don’t really have the weight in their chassis to create highly noticeable stripes; for that you need a burly petrol model like the Hayter reviewed below. Nevertheless, this mower ticks all the right boxes: it has a cutting width of 34cm – good for small to medium plots – a 35-litre plastic grass collector, a mulching plug and a longer-than-average 15-metre cable.
It’s quiet, too, which is a boon for those who do their mowing on a Sunday evening. However, its lowest cutting height is 25mm and owners of bowling green lawns may find that too high for their needs.
Hayter Spirit 41 Series Autodrive: £499, Hayter
If you want professional looking lawn stripes and have an expansive lawn, then a petrol powered model like this one from Hayter is the way to go. The Spirit 41 weighs in at a whopping 33kgs but, because most of that weight pushes down on the full-width rear roller, the end result is a row of lawn stripes even the head groundsman at Wimbledon would be proud of.
Oh, and don’t worry about how you’ll manage to push all that mass because it comes with single-speed (4kph) self propulsion, making the whole process of mowing a walk in the park.
The 41cm rust free aluminium cutting deck and 55-litre collector are perfectly suitable for medium sized lawns but frankly you could just as easily use this on a plot bigger than a pair of tennis courts – all you need to hand is a can of unleaded fuel. Pull start mechanisms can sometimes be a bit iffy but this one’s 125cc Briggs & Stratton engine fired up every time with no issues whatsoever.
Build quality is exemplary and, at just 13mm, it has the lowest cutting height of all, making it the perfect choice for bowling green style lawns. However, you will need a storage space with easy access because you won’t be able to lift this monster on your own.
The Verdict: Lawnmowers
With so many excellent lawnmowers to consider, choosing a top three proved rather tricky. But after much chin scratching, we’re pleased to announce the little Stihl RMA 235 as our Best Buy. This cordless German thoroughbred not only impressed us with its grass cutting efficiency but also its state of the art battery management system.
Second place goes to the larger cordless Greenworks G40LM41 (a horticultural brand this particular writer has consistently been impressed with) and the third spot to the trusty Bosch Rotak 32, a budget-priced electric mower with great credentials.
